Zach Pancratz is one of seven players returning to the men’s basketball team for the 2005-2006 season.

While tonight’s game against DePaul is an intense game for all of the Huskies, the game has special meaning for Pancratz as his dad played for the Blue Demons from 1972-1976.

The Northern Star got a chance to talk to the Schaumburg native and ask him about the game against DePaul and his dad, his time spent down in Texas last year, and why he actually enjoyed going to NIU coach Rob Judson’s “boot camp.”

Northern Star: The team didn’t start the season on a great note with a loss to Missouri State. What happened in that game?

Zach Pancratz: I think the team came out and didn’t perform as well as we wanted to. We didn’t do the little things and the game ended up not going the way we wanted it to.

NS: The offense did a 180 as it dominated against Aurora on Saturday. What was the difference between the games against Missouri State and Aurora?

ZP: I think the biggest difference was our defense. We focused on our defense intensity during practice the past week. That intensity helps us to make teams do what we want them to and not to play their game.

NS: Last year was your first season at NIU, were you satisfied with your performance?

ZP: You’re never really satisfied. That’s why you’re a competitor. I have a lot of room to make improvements and I can only get better.

NS: What areas do you think you need to improve in your game?

ZP: My ball handling and overall strength need to get better. I need to focus on becoming an overall complete player.

NS: Do you notice anything different about the team this year versus the team last year?

ZP: I think the biggest difference this year is urgency. It’s on us to get better everyday and to bring that intensity to the games. It’s urgent, because we know we can do it this year.

NS: How did it feel to beat DePaul at its home court last year?

ZP: Whenever you can beat a team at their court it’s great. It’s a huge rivalry between us and DePaul and it makes these games great games.

NS: Are you nervous or worried at all about facing DePaul again knowing that they want revenge from last year’s lost?

ZP: We know that thought is in the back of their minds. We can’t worry about that, we need to worry about ourselves and our intensity.

NS: How does it feel to know that one of the reason why the Blue Demons did not make the NCAA tournament was because of their loss to NIU?

ZP: I didn’t even think about that. If that is a reason, I would like to have seen them get into the tournament to show that we beat a tournament team.

NS: Your dad played for DePaul, how does he feel about these games between the Huskies and Blue Demons?

ZP: For me and him it’s a little bit deeper of a game. It’s a great rivalry between the two schools because we’re so close. We as a team just need to come out and take this game as the next step in our season.

NS: Does your dad cheer for the Huskies or Blue Demons in these match-ups?

ZP: He’s rooting for the Huskies. There’s no doubt about it.

NS: What is it going to take from the team to beat DePaul again this season?

ZP: I think we need to bring a big physical presence. DePaul is coming from a great conference in the Big East. We have to match their physical presence and bring even more than that against them.

NS: What was your favorite moment from your freshman season?

ZP: I think that tournament in Texas was fun. Playing three different teams and coming out on top was great.

NS: Final question, what was the boot camp experience before the season like and do you think it will help the team this year?

ZP: It’s was great for us. It builds the team unity and physically it conditioned our bodies for the season. We just can’t lose that mental toughness from camp in the season.